---

2010 FSM National Law Day

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Supreme Court/FSMIS): July 2, 2010 - The FSM National Law Day is one of the FSM Supreme Court's annually sponsored programs that features high school students representing the states of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap in debates on issues of national significance.

The purpose of Law Day, since its inception in 1991, has been to involve high school students and the general public in discussions about issues important to the FSM as a developing nation. Since 1991, over 150 high school students from the four states have been involved in the event and $150,000 in scholarship funds has been issued.

A coordinating committee is appointed each year by the Chief Justice to organize and implement the Law Day. The committee, comprised of members from the FSM executive, legislative, and judicial branches worked together to determine the topic of the debate. This year's topic is " BE IT RESOLVED that in the best interest of securing the greatest possible benefit for the people of the FSM from the natural resources within the FSM Exclusive Economic Zone, all foreign fishing, and all fishing by entities in which non FSM citizens own greater than a 49% interest, shall be prohibited by law."

Each year, the Court pays to send the student debaters from each state to the venue of the debates and provides scholarship money for their post-secondary education to attend colleges and universities of their choice, including the College of Micronesia-FSM. The scholarship money is provided to the student debaters upon receipt by the Court, of letters of acceptance to the colleges or universities of their choice.

This year's 2010 FSM National Law Day will be held in Pohnpei State, at the FSM Supreme Court in Palikir. The Debates will be held on Monday, July 12, 2010, beginning at 10:00AM. The general public is cordially invited and encouraged to attend to show support for the student debaters' accomplishments. For those unable to attend in person, the ceremonies and debates will also be broadcast live on July 12, 2010. In Pohnpei, the debates will be broadcast by the Baptist Radio at 999 AM and 104 FM and through the local stations in the other three states beginning at 10:00 a.m. (Pohnpei time).

Representing each of the States are:

Pohnpei State
Calvary Christian Academy
Coach: Terisa Joel
Debaters: Kimo Carl and Marisa Sterllings

Chuuk State
Saramen Chuuk Academy
Coach: Marcellus J. Akapito
Debaters: Gwendolyn Maryrose Nakayama and Eason Chenbo Eas

Kosrase State
Kosrae High School
Coach: Lyna R. George
Debaters: Neelma P. Skilling and Joshua C. Hadik

Yap State
Yap High School
Coach: Brian Ramngen
Debaters: Cyril Celestine Garaad Gorongayin

For more information, please contact Belan T. Yoma, State Justice Ombudsman, FSM Supreme Court, at yomabelan@hotmail.com or at Ph: 320-27633.